Communications

London, May 26, 1841.

Pres't Young, and Elders Kimball Woodruff, and Smith:

It is with no small degree of pleasure, I embrace this early opportunity of communicating you some intelligence in references to Zion's onward movements in England's renowned metropolis.

The Sunday after my arrival in London, from Manchester Conference, I baptized two; the Sunday following eleven came forward and received the gospel: the next Sunday week, three more followed their example; and the Sunday following which was the day of our Conference (16th inst.) two more received baptism.

At our Conference I was privileged to represent the church in London, consisting of seventy four members. Hence you perceive that the work of the Lord is moving steadily forward in this city, and bringing forth from midnight slumber, many of the humble and virtuous into the kingdom of light and intelligence. A desire to investigate, and become acquainted with our principles is now rapidly increasing and extending itself through the city. I am confident but little has been done as yet towards spreading forth in this city the curtains of Zion, in comparison to what still remains to be accomplished.

Although after excessive toil and labor,

Zion at length has become permanently established in this metropolis, fixed upon a firm and immovable basis, yet notwithstanding in the present stage of its progress it has scarcely risen above the horizon of public notice. However, I trust the period is now upon the wing, also, is advancing with rapid flight, when Zion will ascend high up the horizon of public view, pouring forth her sunbeams of intelligence, sweeping into everlasting oblivion the amalgamated mass of false tradition, dark superstition, sectarian folly, and abominations of priestcraft which now for a little season becloud her onward course, and hold her in the shade.

Elders Hyde and Adams were present at our London Conference. Elder Hyde tarried with me about a week and then accompanied brother Adams on his return to Bedford, where he intends stopping until he shall have finished writing his book, which he intends to get translated into the German language. In the course of two or three weeks he will probably complete his book, then return to London, and soon after set out for Germany, on his mission to Jerusalem.

The church at Bedford is increasing very rapidly, at Conference it was represented by Elder Adams as numbering sixty eight members. As might be expected, Elder Adams is lashing away upon the priests of Baal in the vicinity of Bedford, in that sort of style which causes them much uneasiness. He is holding a discussion with some of them at the present time.

In every part of the kingdom that I have had information from where churches have been established, the work of the Lord is till going forward with great success.

Our room here in London is now so excessively crowded that we are obliged to seek another place. We had almost engaged a chapel but failed through some unforeseen circumstance; we are not certain however, but we may yet succeed in obtaining another one which we have in view; If we fail in this we must content ourselves with some larger room or public house.

Affectionately yours,

Lorenzo Snow.

New Rochelle, Westchester co,}

New York: July 27th, 1841}

To the Editors of the Times & Seasons:

Dear Brethren,

On the 3rd of Feb. last I came from New York, to this place in company with Francis Hewit, Priest, we stoped [stopped] at the house of a minister of the Methodist order, we preached five times and baptized four persons, one of whom was the minister's wife, he has been baptized since. We then returned to our families in New York City. I came back alone, and preached four times and baptized two persons, in a short time there were more baptized. I then determined to remove hither that they might not be as "sheep having no shepherd." The work now appeared to have come to a stand, but by patient perseverance I soon had the satisfaction of seeing that the word preached was like "bread cast upon the waters." I requested Elder J. G. Divine to assist me which he did for a short time. He is now laboring in New Jersey. He baptized seven while he was here. The work is now rolling forward as if impelled by a mighty engine, which causes the saints to rejoice, while the affrighted priests have in their lectures against us called upon the people to "rise in the majesty of their strength, (i. e. mob force,) and put us down." But these efforts have been like casting feathers against the wind. A short time since I baptized three, yesterday I baptized five, and others have offered to be baptized next Sabbath. We now number 35 including 2 elders, 1 priest, and 1 teacher, all in good standing. To God be all the glory.

The Episcopal D. D. at this place had the curiosity to write to Proff. C. Anthon of New York to know if our statement concerning the "words of the book" were correct: Proff. Anthon answered him by letter with permission to publish it, which he did. You will find it in a periodical entitled "The Church Record," Vol; 1, No. 22. Although it was written with the avowed purpose of stoping [stopping] the progress of this gospel, yet I consider it to be a great acquisition to us in proving the Book of Mormon to be a genuine record, by comparing it with the researches of Humboldt, Raffinesque, Stephens and others. The following is a short extract from Proff. Anthon's letter:

"Many years ago, the precise date I do not now recollect, a plain looking countryman called upon me with a letter from Dr. Samuel L. Mitchel, requesting me to examine, and give my opinion upon a certain paper, marked with various characters, which the Doctor confessed he could not decipher, and which the bearer of the note was very anxious to have explained. A very brief examination of the paper convinced me that it was a mere hoax, and a very clumsy one too. The characters were arranged in columns like the Chinese mode of writing, and presented the most singular medley that I ever beheld. Greek, Hebrew, and all sort of letters, more or less distorted, either through unskilfullness or from actual designs, were intermingled with sundry delineations of half moons, stars, and other natural objects, and the whole ended in a rude representation of the Mexican Zodiac." I suppose that Proff. Anthon considered that this would be an incontrovertable [incontrovertible] argument against the Book of Mormon; but let us see: The celebrated antiquarian Proff. Rafinesque says, in speaking of the writing found on the ruins of the stone city found in Mexico, "The glyphs of Otolum are written from top to bottom like the Chinese, or from side to side, indifferntly [indifferently] like the Egyptian and the Demotic Libian.-Although the most common way of writing the groubs [groups] is in rows and each groub [group] seperated [separated], yet we find some framed, as it were in oblong squares, or tablets like those of Egypt." American Antiquities page 127. Also on page 122 of the same work, is a fac simile of American hieroglyphics found in Mexico.-They are arranged in columns, the 1st column consists of four "Delineations of half moons," the 2nd of three suns, the 3rd of the letter I and the human scabula, the 4th of one R and two O's, the 5th column consists of 2 hands, the 6th of a triangle and two squares, the 7th of 2 fishes, the 8th of an S and a quill, the 9th consists of the letter N and blaze of fire, &c., &c.

Now let us look for a few moments at facts as they are. A plain looking man came to Proff. Anthon with a paper containing various delineations of half moons, and other natural objects, interspersed with various sorts of letters, and these characters of letters were inscribed on the paper by a young man who was without means of information, with regard to the researches of antiquarians; and this was done sometime previous to the year 1831. And in the year 1838 (the date of the book of Antiquities in my possession,) a book is published containing a fac simile of American glyphs which consists of "visions, delineations of half moons, and other natural objects interspersed with various sorts of letters."-I leave your readers to draw their own conclusion.

Yours in the bonds

the new covenant,

Chas. W. Wandell.